5 free agent cornerbacks the Raiders should consider signing

Heading into the 2018 season, the Raiders weren’t sure what to expect from their cornerback room. The team signed numerous free agents, including Leon Hall, Rashaan Melvin, Daryl Worley, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, etc. They were also returning second-year player Gareon Conley, who hardly played at all as a rookie.

Despite all of their additions to the defensive back room, hardly any of them panned out. Melvin wasn’t the same player in Oakland as he was in Indianapolis and Worley proved to be just a solid CB3. Rodgers-Cromartie retired halfway through the season and Hall dealt with a back injury all year long.

The only positive to take away from the 2019 season was that Gareon Conley developed into a star in the second half of the season. Most of the time, he was able to lock down his side, but opposing quarterbacks would target whatever cornerback was playing opposite of Conley.

This offseason, the Raiders have to address the “other” cornerback spot on the roster. If Oakland can find a viable CB2, then this defense could take a big step forward. Here are five cornerbacks the Raiders should consider signing in free agency to pair with Gareon Conley.

Jets CB Morris Claiborne, 29

One of the best valued free agents in this market could be Jets’ cornerback Morris Claiborne. The former No.6 overall pick from the 2012 NFL Draft has finally started to come into his own. Most importantly, Claiborne is shedding his injury-prone label as he has played 30 of 32 games over the past two seasons.

Claiborne never developed into a lockdown, No.1 cornerback type of player, but he has turned into a fantastic No.2 cornerback. Any deal in which he receives less than $10 million per season would be a steal for the Raiders.

Email

Like this article?

Sign up for the Raiders Wire email newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning

An error has occured

Please re-enter your email address.

Thanks for signing up!

You'll now receive the top Raiders Wire stories each day directly in your inbox.